Marcellus Shale legislation is a sellout to gas industry

They would pre-empt strong local ordinances regulating Marcellus drilling in Pennsylvania and replace them with weak and inadequate state regulations.

These legislative bills were initiated to pre-empt all local zoning ordinances attempting to restrict Marcellus drilling in their municipalities and replace them with weakened state ordinances.

Allowing the attorney general to rule on local ordinances, the latest twist in the bills, is tantamount to pre-emption on federal laws and local laws through the back door.

Drilling would even be allowed in residential areas near schools and churches where bars can't operate.

These bills are an assault on local governments' sovereignty and the democratic process by allowing corporate gas interests to dictate what legislation will be passed.

So much for 10th Amendment and small government ideals.

It is an outrage that these bills do not provide adequate setbacks for wells, waterways, etc., do not adequately provide for proper control of air pollution, and do not provide for an adequate tax or impact fee.